When tire shoppers compare Goodyear tires to Michelin, most of them look into the performance advantage and the maximum savings they could get, since both premium brands offer the best innovation possible.
To illustrate, we examined Michelin vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate and found out that Michelin UHP tires are noisy but deliver superior comfort and traction in wet, dry and snowy conditions.
Conversely, Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate excels in dry weather and is usable on wet surfaces and light snow with minimal noise levels even at high speed.
| Factors |  |
 |
| Dry | Competitive | Winner |
| Wet | Competitive | Winner |
| Noise/Comfort/ Ride Quality | Pleasant ride, low noise level | High level of comfort, noisy |
| Snow and Ice | Competitive | Winner |
| UTQG Rating | Lower treadwear rating | Winner |
| Price | Equal | Equal |
| Warranty | Equal | Equal |
Table of Contents
What Are Michelin Tires
Michelin has five ultra high-performance all-season tires that belong to the Michelin Pilot family. Note that ZP (Zero Pressure) tires are run-flat.
| Michelin Tires | Fitment | Features |
| Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | Luxury sports cars, coupes and sedans | Superior dry handling and wet grip |
| Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | Luxury vehicles, performance sedans, CUVs and SUVs |
|
| Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP | Run-flat tire for sedans, sporty coupes and premium sports cars | Performs similarly to Pilot Sport A/S 3+ |
| Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP | M + S branded run-flat tire for HP sedans, sports cars, and performance coupes | Temporary mobility support up to 50 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP | Special OE run-flat tire for Chevrolet Corvette | Combination of the performance of Michelin Pilot All Season 4 and Michelin A/S ZP |
Similarities in Innovative Features of Michelin Tires
| Common Features | Purpose |
| Bold asymmetric tread pattern with 4, 5 or 6 rib designs | Excellent lateral grip for dry cornering that is comparable to competitor’s summer tires |
| Broad circumferential grooves | Aquaplaning resistance |
| Tread compound was made of sunflower oil (courtesy of Helio+ technology) and high silica content (brought by Extreme Silica Technology) | Improve grip in cold conditions or on wet surfaces |
| Variable Contact patch 3.0 Technology | Distributing pressure as temperature changes upon road contact |
For the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, instead of using Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology, the tire enhanced its capabilities in hard cornering through Dynamic Response technology. Its hydroplaning resistance was reinforced by incorporating huge rain grooves in its circumferential channels.
As a result, the tire wears longer and has better handling and traction in all weather conditions. This design is suitable for Tesla cars (S model).
What is the Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is an ultra high performance all season tire that can provide
muscle cars, sports sedans and coupes high speed traction in dry roads.
Innovative Features
The asymmetric five-rib tread design is composed of silica-rich sipes and grooves that can increase wet grip and resist aquaplaning in rainy, icy, and light snow conditions.
Also, the tire’s tread possesses Active Braking Technology and Active Grip technology for safety.
Differences: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate vs Michelin
- Results
Let’s compare the consumer ratings of Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate vs Michelin UHP tires.
| Tires | Wet | Dry | Winter/Snow | Comfort/ Ride Quality | Noise |
| Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate | 8.7 | 8.9 | 6.3 | 8.1 | Low noise |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | 9.1 | 9.3 | 6.8 | 8.4 | Noisy |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP | 9.0 | 9.2 | 7.5 | 8.2 | Noticeable noise |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 7.4 | 8.8 | Loud noise |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP | 9.0 | 9.7 | 6.6 | 9.0 | Quiet |
There’s not enough consumer feedback for the Pilot Sport A/S ZP, so the scores are not available for comparison. But based on the testimonials, the tire is quieter and works better than a Goodyear Eagle in wet and dry conditions.
- Dry and Wet Performance
The Michelin tires received superb ratings in wet and dry conditions while the Goodyear Eagle performs well but lags behind in both.
That said, within this group of all season performance tires, Goodyear’s Eagle Exhilarate still has noticeably great handling and impact absorption.
- Noise
Both brands didn’t incorporate specific noise canceling technology, but reviews show that Goodyear’s Eagle Exhilarate produced low noise level.
Unlike Michelin Crossclimate 2, which is the go-to tire for a smooth and quiet ride, Michelin UHP tires largely have moderate to loud noise. For instance, the AS 3 emits sizzling sounds that resemble frying bacon, while the road noise of the AS 3+ and All Season 4 becomes louder as you drive faster.
There were some complaints on Reddit about the road noise of Michelin Pilot Sport tires, which affects ride quality. Normally, UHP tires sacrifice road noise for excellent high speed performance.
- Comfort/Ride Quality
The table above shows that the Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP got the highest rating for comfortability. Meanwhile, the Eagle Exhilarate was in last place.
In a Tire Rack test for ultra high performance tires, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 also scored higher than the Exhilarate in handling.
As for the A/S 3+, the steering is exceptional. It runs better compared to its Goodyear counterpart, especially in snow.
- Snow and Ice
The Michelin and Goodyear tires in this match up are not snow-rated, but both brands claim capability in handling light snow conditions.
Based on consumer surveys on Tire Rack, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP has the highest approval rating for snow/winter performance. The Michelin Pilot Sport all season tires received good grades, while Goodyear’s Eagle Exhilarate was at the bottom with a fair rating.
The Eagle Exhilarate is passable in light snow conditions, but its grip is not as reliable as the Pilot Sport AS 4. Still, expect the Goodyear tire to outperform summer tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in frosty weather.
- UTQG rating
Michelin’s Pilot Sport All Season 4 has a higher treadwear rating of 540 than Eagle Exhilarate’s 500, but both brands got outstanding grades for traction (AA) and temperature (A).
This means that they stand out in handling stopping distances in wet roads and heat changes.
| Tires | UTQG rating |
| Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate | 500 AA A |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | 500 AA A |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 | 540 AA A |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP | 500 AA A |
| Pilot Sport A/S ZP | 540 AA A |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP | 540 AA A |
- Warranty
Excluding ZP rated tires, both brands have the same mileage promise of 45,000 miles.
| Tires | Warranty |
| Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate | 45,000 |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | 45,000 |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 | 45,000 |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP | 30,000 |
| Pilot Sport A/S ZP | 30,000 |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP | 30,000 |
- Cost
The starting prices of Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 and ZP tires differ, with the former being cheaper.
But if you compare the Eagle Exhilarate with Michelin’s Pilot Sport A/S 3+, the A/S 3+ is more affordable with a $15 price difference.
| Tires | Price |
| Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate | $159.00 |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ | $144.00 |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 | $174.99 |
| Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP | $269.10 |
| Pilot Sport A/S ZP | $310.12 |
| Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP | $332.84 |
FAQs
Are Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires good in snow?
Yes. Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate has a fair traction rating in snowy conditions. It can pass snow covered paths, but the grip is not impressive.
Check our review of Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires here!
Is Goodyear F1 Asymmetric good?
If you want an alternative to the Goodyear Exhilarate, the F1 Asymmetric All Season is worth considering as it has excellent wet and dry performance. The Asymmetric 5 (M+S) and All-Season Runonflat don’t have enough ratings yet, so it’s hard to say how they run.
You will also come across other F1 Asymmetric models, but they’re summer tires.
Is Goodyear the same as Michelin?
No. Goodyear and Michelin are different tiremakers. Goodyear is a 124 years old American tire company headquartered in Akron, Ohio, while Michelin has been producing tires since 1889 in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Based on 2022 world rankings, Michelin ranks first in the industry while Goodyear lands on the third spot. Goodyear surpassed Continental due to its acquisition of Cooper Tires, another Ohio-based tire maker, in 2021.
Related: Michelin vs Cooper tires.
Conclusion
After comparing Michelin vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate, it can be concluded that both tires are weather-ready.
If you are looking for performance advantages, go for Michelin because it is almost perfect. However if you are more concerned about comfort and road noise, Eagle Exhilarate is worth trying, especially on dry pavements.
If this comparison surprises you, I bet learning more about Vredestein tires vs Michelin will also leave an impression, so watch out for our review.
Check out other models as well, such as the Continental ExtremeContact DWS and Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season, both of which are high-performance all-season tires.
